Meet the Staff

The Rev. Jeffrey Gargano, PastorAccepted the call of the Reformed Church of the Tarrytowns in 2009. Previously served as pastor of the Reformed Church, St. Thomas, Virgin islands, for 14 years.

The Rev. Julia Doellman-BrownPastor to Children and Youth

Nanette MaleraAdministrative Assistant

Mi-Won Kim and Jeremy GoldsmithMusic Co-Directors

Patty Kreamer (2nd from right), director, with the staff of New Beginnings Nursery School

Candleight Services Set for Old Dutch Dec. 24

Everyone is invited to attend a Candlelight Service on Christmas Eve at the Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow. There will be four services, starting at 5:30 p.m. with a program for families with small children. This will be followed by a Festival of Carols and Lessons with adult choir and bell choir at 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. and a special music program with soloists at 11:00 p.m.

Teens to Return to Haiti in February

The terrible destruction wrought by Hurricane Matthew to Haiti has not altered the plans for the church's teen mission group to return in February to help build a new home for a family they met there in July, says the Rev. Jeffrey Gargano. "The man of the house had fashioned together a quite remarkable instrument that he used to praise God at church," says Rev. Gargano. He, his wife, three children and grandmother lived in a house (pictured at left) that was little more than sticks and straw held together by mud, with gaping holes, says Rev. Gargano, adding, "It's a kind of poverty that is almost unspeakable for us."

The trip will fulfill the mission team's challenge to the congregation to raise $4,000 to build the house (with the help of local builders), such as the one pictured at right that the teens worked on last summer. Three teens have so far volunteered to spend their spring break mixing concrete and carrying cement blocks. The host ministry, Helping Hands for Haiti, is supported by many Reformed, Christian Reformed and Lutheran churches in the Midwest.

A New Home for a Family in Haiti

After a church service last summer in Haiti, the RCT Mission Team met a family. They distributed food and toys, played with the children, sang and prayed together. But they felt it wasn't enough. The team--teens from RCT led by Pastor Jeffrey Gargano--asked what it would take to replace the family's home of sticks, barely held together by mud and rags. About $4,000, they were told. Says Pastor Gargano, "Our plan then was to return to Haiti with the money--and elbow grease--during the school winter break. Unfortunately, after a brief outbreak of anti-American demonstrations, we felt that for the time being it would be best just to forward the money and employ some local builders and laborers." Above is the result. The picture on the left is what the team saw last August. The picture on the right is of the family at the front door of their new, solid, secure and dry home.

Wine & Chocolate Holiday Fundraiser

John the Baptist crashed the Christmas Pageant!

Because the Pageant is performed before Christmas, it is during Advent, a time of preparation. As we prepare to perform, John the Baptist calls us to prepare our hearts for Christ's coming. On December 16, John the Baptist crashed our pageant and asked why we always forget him.

Why do we?

The Christmas pageant this year retold the story of Christ's birth. The times were dark and the people of God needed light. However, as John the Baptist proclaimed, they needed to prepare for that light for it would reveal their own dark thoughts and deeds. Could they handle the coming of a savior? The Christmas story can be told over and over again to give us hope that God will never abandon us especially in hard times.

Our director: Jack

Our cast:

A Maze in Pottery - December 2

A small group from the Sunday School went to glaze pottery at "A Maze in Pottery", a studio located about 20 minutes from the church. The fired pieces will be picked up December 9.

Thanksgiving Run

The Middle Schoolers shopped at Stop 'n' Shop in Ossining for Thanksgiving dinners for local families. They competed to see which team could spend closest to the budget given to them without going over. No calculators were allowed. Both teams lost! No prize-winning team. Both teams overspent. However, the families who received the food were grateful. Pastor Jeff decided they all could still receive the prize, two eclairs each.

They ate under the maple tree outside the sanctuary. Then they could not resist climbing the tree before heading over to Mr. Nick's for pizza. These teens can eat, but they also pitched in to help pay the tab!

We thank God for them.

Marco Panuccio in Concert, Jan. 4

Marco Panuccio

The Reformed Church of the Tarrytowns will host a celebration of our Lord's Epiphany, Sunday, January 4, at 6:00 p.m. The liturgy will feature special music by Emmy-nominated lyric tenor Marco Panuccio, joined by violist Kathleen Stevens and Dr. David McConnell on piano. The trio will perform Ralph Vaughan Williams's "Four Hymns," one of the composers lesser-known works. Mr. Panuccio has performed with some of the most important orchestras and opera companies throughout the world and earned international acclaim from both audiences and critics. Dr. McConnell teaches music at Penn State Berks, and is Choral Director at Lehigh Carbon Community College. Ms. Stevens is a cofounder of the Berks Sinfonietta, a chamber orchestra based in Reading, PA.

Three Women Honored

(L to R) Nanette Malera, Renee Chillemi and Jane Kuntz were recently honored for their tireless service to the church. At the Dec. 12 Beefsteak Dinner, the Rev. Jeff Gargano praised Nanette, church secretary, Renee, a deacon, and Jane, secretary in the Synod Office, for their key roles in developing, organizing and promoting church programs, including community outreach, such as the Old Dutch Church Fest, the Tarrytown Halloween parade float, and Sinterklaas's visit to the church on Dec. 5.

Festive Evening at the Town Clock Church

Sinterklaas, the Dutch giver of gifts at Christmastime, arrived on horseback at the Reformed Church on the cool and wet evening of Dec. 5, but the weather did not deter dozens of families from coming out to see the holy man, who rode on horseback up Main Street to North Broadway and on to the Reformed Church. Helping to make it a merry evening at the church were a choir and brass musicians. Hot beverages warmed hands, while carols warmed hearts. The porch decorations, featuring a seasonal Holland theme, were lighted. Later in the evening, inside the toasty-warm sanctuary, Sinterklaas told the story of the ancient Greek bishop, also known as St. Nicholas, who gave anonymous gifts and showed many kindnesses to children. He called the children to come forward to receive gold-wrapped chocolate coins and wrapped gifts. On the way out of the sanctuary, there were plenty of traditional mandarin oranges to pick up and take home.

4 Christmas Eve Services Set for Old Dutch

Four Christmas celebrations will be held at the Old Dutch Church of Sleepy Hollow this year. Advent services are at the Clock Church in Tarrytown.

December 24 Christmas Celebrations, Old Dutch Church5:30 p.m. Families with Young Children7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Festival of Lessons and Carols, with choirs11:00 p.m. Festival of Lessons and Carols, with soloists